How to Pray

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HOW TO PRAY

What is Prayer

Prayer is a two-way conversation with God. This involves directing our prayer to God, speaking out loud, listening and responding to Him (Ps. 5:3). There are corporate prayers, where we pray together for a certain outcome (Matt. 18:19; Acts 14:23), and where we are assembled together but we commune individually with Him (Acts 12:12; 20:36; 21:5). There are prayers we pray on our own, not to be seen by men, but pray in secret (Matt. 6:5-8).

Why pray

God told us to (Luke 18:1; Phm. 1:4). Prayer releases our authority He has given us through our mouth (Rom. 10:10). It enables God to work through us, to meet His will on earth for us and others (Ezek. 22:29-31; John 15:7; Matt. 7:7-11; Ps. 91) e.g. prayer for salvation (Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 9:38), empowerment of Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15; 19:6; Luke 11:13), protecting us against temptation (Matt. 26:41), giving us supernatural wisdom (James 1:6), healing (James 5:15-16), physical needs (Phil. 4:19), and much more…

Who do we pray to

To God our Father who is in Heaven (Matt. 6:9; 23:9; John 8:42). Jesus Christ’s sacrifice made it possible to have direct access to God as our Father (Heb. 4:16; John 1:12) and it is Holy Spirit who actually helps us (Rom. 8:14-15, 26). Can we pray with Jesus and Holy Spirit? Yes, Paul prayed to the Lord Jesus when he was being persecuted (2 Cor. 12:8-9) and so did Stephen (Acts 7:59). The early church communed with Holy Spirit regarding interpretation of scripture for He is our Teacher (Acts 10:19-20; 13:2; 15:28; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 2:26-27; John 14:16).

How to pray

The key to prayer is to know God’s love has been provided in and through Jesus Christ and to respond accordingly (John 17:23; Acts 17:28; Rom. 5:10; 8:38-39). Know that He hears and responds. The pattern of prayer is to honor God as our Heavenly Father, seek His Will to be done, talk about expanding His Kingdom, forgive others, repent and depend upon Him (Luke 11:2-4; Matt. 6:9-15; John 17; Acts 4:24-30).

Few Types of prayer:

Prayer – to commune with a heart of worship/ obedience to Him (Matt. 6:8-12, 33).

These types of Prayer are mostly spoken out loud (Luke 11:2; John 17:1; 18:1), either in our natural language or in our spiritual language(s) called tongues. We pray in our understanding and sometimes not (1 Cor. 14:14-15).

Tongues

Everyone who believes and is baptized in Holy Spirit can speak in tongues (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 8:17-19; 11:15). Being baptized in Holy Spirit can be at the same time as conversion (Acts 10:44-46) or after (Acts 19:5-6; John 20:22 & Acts 1:8). Generally the person speaking in tongues doesn’t know what they are saying; they are speaking mysteries (1 Cor. 14:2), the wonderful works of God (Acts 2:11), and/or giving of thanks to God (1 Cor. 14:16). In the process they are edifying themselves (1 Cor. 14:2, 4; Jude 1:20).

How to Hear Him

It is rare, but He does speak audibly. Most times His voice speaks to our conscience, our spirit. It is Holy Spirit who bears witness with our spirit (Rom. 9:1; 8:16). His voice gives us an answer of inner peace (2 Tim. 1:7). An inner peace that isn’t based on logic, tradition or emotion but on an inner knowing it is right or no peace telling us it is wrong (Gen. 41:16, Ps. 85:8; Phil. 4:6-8; Col. 3:15, 1 John 2:27). His peace validates the word He speaks. Many times the Lord will answer the root of the question, the motivation for the request, not necessarily what is being asked (1 Chr. 28:9; Luke 1:18-20, 34-35). So check the motive.

Some ways He speaks –

He reminds us of a specific Bible passage and it brings clarity to that exact area of need (2 Peter 1:19; Ps. 119:105,130; John 14:26; Matt. 4:4).

A dream or vision burnt into our heart and we have difficulty shaking it (Job 33:15-16; Acts 10:17).

Someone is sent to answer, or ask a question that inspires the answer (Acts 3:18-22; 1 Cor. 12:28; Num. 22:28-33). It confirms what we already know within (Acts 21:10-14).

An impossible idea accompanied by His faith and favour to do it (Num. 14:6-9; Matt. 14:29).

Not loving those in the Lord (John 15:7-12; 1 John 3:20-24; Matt. 5:23-24);

Abstaining from good; not seeking justice, not rebuking those who oppress those who are suffering; not defending the fatherless, not pleading on behalf of the widow (Is. 1:15-19). Shutting our eyes and ears to helping the poor (Prov. 21:13). Ignoring the needs of our family (1 Tim. 5:8);

Husband dishonouring their wife (1 Peter 3:7); wife not submitting to her husband as to the Lord (1 Cor. 11:10; Eph. 5:22).

Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:7)

Isaiah

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6)

Isaiah

Our God is the God of salvation; and to GOD the Lord escapes from death. (Ps. 68:20)

David

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jer 23:5-6)

Yahweh

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. (Is 53:10)

Isaiah

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Is. 53:4-6)

Isaiah

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know? (Pro. 30:4)

Solomon

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. (Ps. 118:22)

The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. (Pro. 8:22-23)

Yeshua

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Ps 110:1)

David

For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look, stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. (Ps. 22:16-18)

Yeshua via David

“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Ps. 2:12)

David

“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.” (Deut 18:18-19)